I was on Methotrexate with folic acid to reduce the stomach issues just don’t take folic acid the day you take methotrexate. Meanwhile I went to an integrated doctor and since Jan. 3rd I have eliminated all inflammatory foods from my diet and along with natural supplements I have reduced inflammation from 13.5 to 2.8. So I have weaned off of methotrexate and folic acid. I feel great and have lost 45+ lbs. I won’t have to see the specialists every 3-6 months, just once a year!

Don’t feel bad about asking questions- ask away.
My understanding, also, is that it take several weeks (3-4 weeks) for Methotrexate to start working. In the mean time you may need some pain management to get you through the transition to Methotrexate working.
If Tylenol is working for you perhaps stay with that. Otherwise contact you doctor for a pain protocol while you wait for the Methotrexate to work.

thank you for the reply. I decided to not follow the doctor's instructions but hold off until further testing has been done. Just one single test that I had four years ago does not determine 100% that I have RA. I want a follow up test plus other tests that are available. I was shocked that a specialist can decide basically overnight without any substantial result or reason to add MT to my meds since I have been doing relatively fine on hydroxychloroquine. My brain cannot wrap around this. I also asked him what he thought of the time it might take to proceed and consider my age. Is it all worth it for me if I might only live another five years? how fast does my particular RA advance? My specialist was actually impressed by my questions. Unfortunately it also crossed my mind that he should have thought of all this himself. After all, he is supposed to be the brain in this.

Well I took metheltrexate and remicaid together for about 5 years or more . It was the perfect combination for me which let me
Love a pretty normal life. The problem occurred when my liver enzymes went sky high so I was taken off of it. I went downhill from there till I started plaqunel and humeria. I have recently been diagnosed with stage 2 liver fibrosis which I think come from metheltrexate. No Dr. Will not come out and say that but that is when my problems started. There is no meds for this or anything you can do for it . I cannot take NSAID’s Tylenol or ibuprofen any more so I don’t have a go to for pain. I have changed some eating habits trying to keep my liver levels down but it has been very hard to accept that I can’t do anything about this condition. I am checked every three month for levels. I can’t go without my ra meds because I could not function very well. I am caught between rock and hard place.

Methotrexate has been my best friend since 2009. No nausea, no hair loss but it has allowed me to continue working, tend my garden, look after my chickens, basically I get on with my life.

I still have RA and always will but I am thankful every day that there are drugs to help control it. My only fear is that they stop working.